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22 While the Levite and those who were with him were enjoying themselves, some very bad men from the city surrounded the house. They began beating on the door. They shouted at the old man who owned the house. They said, “Bring out the man who came to your house. We want to have sex with him.”

23 The old man went outside and said to them, “My friends, don’t do such an evil thing! This man is a guest in my house.[a] Don’t commit this terrible sin. 24 Look, here is my daughter. She has never had sex before. I will bring her out to you now. This man also has a slave woman. You can use them any way you want, but don’t do such a terrible sin against this man.”

25 But those evil men would not listen to the old man. So the Levite took his slave woman and put her outside with them. They hurt her and raped her all night long. Then, at dawn, they let her go. 26 At dawn, the woman came back to the house where her master was staying. She fell down at the front door and lay there until it was daylight.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 19:23 This man … my house At this time it was a custom that if you invited people to be your guests, you had to protect and care for those people.

22 While they were enjoying themselves,(A) some of the wicked men(B) of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.(C)

23 The owner of the house went outside(D) and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.(E) 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter,(F) and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”

25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her(G) and abused her(H) throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26 At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.

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